Startling evidence of the
once vibrant, thriving Jewish
community in Iraq came to light
in May 2003 when a U.S. Army
team discovered over 2,700
books and tens of thousands
of documents in the flooded
basement of Saddam Hussein’s
intelligence headquarters.
The Library is the only west
coast venue chosen to host
this exhibition, which features
original documents dating from
the 16th to the 20th centuries,
preserved and made accessible
by the National Archives
and Records Administration
with support from the U.S.
Department of State.

For more information visit:
Nixonlibrary.gov
nixon@nara.gov

714.983.9120

Jlife

| AUGUST 2015 3

4 AUGUST 2015 |

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| AUGUST 2015 5

6 AUGUST 2015 |

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| AUGUST 2015 7

inside
VIEWPOINT

LIFESTYLE

16

50

Girl in The Bomb Shelter

A plan for change
comes to the O.C.

Israel Scene

JLIFE | Av/Elul 5775 | AUGUST 2015

Global Game Changers

18

52

On The Lighter Side

Fresh Orange Jews

A Daily Ritual Ending

20

O.C.’s Fresh Faces

People of the Book?

Rachel Goes Rogue

53

Israeli Guy

20

Battling Bagel Hips

FEATURES

54

26

Your Bubbe Gets It!

A Twenty First
Century Educator

Yiddish Slang within
American English

Meeting Needs is Primary Goal

56

30

Death & Taxes

An Angel (Investor) Among Us
Cornell Professor Forges the
Path To Investments In Israel

32

Facing the inevitable
with grace.

60

History/Blogs

On Becoming A Rabbi
Why at your age?

Orange County’s Jewish
History & The Blogosphere

34

IN EVERY ISSUE

Tale of A Donor

50

12

Behind the scenes at
Yad Vashem, Jerusalem

First & Foremost
Mastering American Jewish
Community

36

Shpilkes
A Parkinson’s Support Group
with a Jewish Perspective

14

Letters/Who Knew
Words from our Readers

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

38

48

News & Jews

Out & About

O.C. Jewish Scene

A Guide to OC Fun

58

40

Seniors Calendar

Cooking Jewish

Fitness, Education & More

With Judy Bart Kancigor

62

44

Advertising Index

Crossword

Look inside for Kiddish,
our insert publication,
right after page 40.

At Your Service

45

The Blue Stars
Up, Up & Away!

39

22
On the
Cover
What about Bob?
Late Night with Solomon Society
Welcomes the Talented Bob Saget

LOOKING FOR
LEARNING
Mastering American Jewish Community
BY RACHEL SCHIFF

APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS ago, I was
in search of a master’s degree that focused on
American Judaism. As a public high school
teacher, I was not in search of a program dealing with “education.” I have been teaching for
about a decade and I did not want to move
to a Jewish school; I wanted an education
focused on sociological issues that Jews deal
with in assimilated American society. I wanted
to learn about diverse American Jewish communities. It is important to understand how
they interact with one another, with other
religious communities, and secular society.
I found my options to be, to my surprise,
incredibly limited in Southern California. In
Orange County, they did not
even exist.
Jewish
In 2015, a Pew report
education, at
claimed that Jews and Hindus
all levels, needs
are the most highly educated population in the United
pleting my thesis this summer
to have a wider
States. Yet, Jewish education,
with the support of Dr. Leila
scope.
in a graduate level setting,
Zenderland, the head of my
seemed to be limited to the
thesis panel. My subject of
following: Jewish educators,
focus is American Jews and their use of online
theology, or a PhD program in Religious communities: how space (internet vs. brick
Studies. None of these fit my desired scope and mortar) has created a shift in cultural
of interest.
norms. My chapters include the following:
It is a strange parallel, with little to no edu- religious outreach, online dating, and altercational intersection. Our community looks native sub-communities that contrast with
at the Pew report, but does not cultivate a Jewish communal norms.
graduate degree that specifically asks and
Jewish education, at all levels, needs to have
answers questions related to the report. It was a wider scope. Not all Jews will become rabbis,
important to find something that suited my Jewish community leaders, Talmud enthusiasts
educational curiosity, something that made or Israel advocates. However, the majority of
these two ideas intersect.
us born in the U.S. will remain here. This
I ended up at California State University alone means Jewish education needs to prepare
Fullerton (of all places to study American individuals to be Jewish Americans in a vast
Judaism) in the American Studies depart- multicultural and multidimensional society.
Arguably, education is a key component of
ment. Fast-forward five years. I am com12 AUGUST 2015 |

Jlife

Model synagogue
Tzedakah boxes.
The Sarajevo haggadah

what keeps our community close. We learn
about religion, culture and community as
Jews. With education, we come from a common foundation that demonstrates understanding and harvests connections to Jews we
just met.
In this month’s Jlife, we welcome you to
not only engage in the magazine by reading,
but perhaps also by writing in to our magazine. Share your educational experiences with
us and/or tell us what Jewish education you
would like to see in Orange County that may
or may not exist as of yet. A
Rachel Schiff is an English teacher who
graduated from Cal State Fullerton. She
was president of Hillel, a representative of
World Union of Jewish Students and a YLD
intern. Currently, she is a master’s degree
student in American Studies with emphasis
on Jews in America.

SUSAN WEISS GOLDSMITH
Any Holocaust story is amazing
and so that was the case with
the WWII hero honored in the
News & Jews feature in a recent
issue. Your readers might be
interested to know that Susanne
Weiss Goldsmith’s story appears
in a recently published book by
Michele M. Gold and illustrated by
Gabriella Y. Karin titled “Memories
That Won’t Go Away.” The author’s
mother was on the Kindertransport
and the illustrator was one of the
children saved. Both author and
illustrator are docents at the Los
Angeles Museum of the Holocaust
located at The Grove in Los
Angeles. This museum is actually
the oldest Holocaust Museum in
the United States.
Dorothy Lasensky, Irvine

KOSHER QUEEN
Thanks so much for the recent
article on Jamie Geller, “The Queen
of Kosher.” I loved hearing her take
on how eating kosher actually
started the trend of conscious
eating that is becoming more
and more prevalent. It’s nice to

look at terms like “Organic, Free
Range, Whole Food, etc.” and
know that we set the foundation
naturally. It was also nice to hear
her take on the importance of
Shabbat especially in regard to
this tradition helping to keep the
family centered. We’re all pulled
in so many directions these days.
It’s important to remember the
things that really matter in life, like
making these family memories that
last a lifetime.
Hannah Freedman, Laguna Beach

A READERSHIP DIVIDED
When has criticizing the
government become un-American?
When has criticizing President
Obama become un-American? And
why, when criticizing President
Obama, are WE called racist and
maybe guilty of bigotry? I don’t
recall criticism of President Bush
being un-American. I will match my
love of country/patriotism with any
reader of Jlife.
Herb Klein

Who Knew?
To celebrate our Education
Issue we are honoring one of
the coolest Jews in the galaxy,
Carl Sagan. Sagan was born in
Brooklyn, N.Y. on Nov. 9, 1943
and passed away much too soon
at the age of 62 on Dec. 20,
1996. He was a pioneer in the
fields of astronomy, astrophysics,
cosmology, astrobiology, space
science and planetary science.
His contributions were central
to the discovery of the high
surface temperatures of Venus.
However, he is best known for
his contributions to the scientific
search of extraterrestrial life.
Sagan assembled the first physical
messages that were sent into
space: the Pioneer Plaque and the
Voyager Golden Record, universal
messages that could potentially
be understood by any intelligence
that might find them. Here’s to you
Carl Sagan, may your work inspire
brilliant young students for years
to come.

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deliver a world-class math education for their K–12 children.

OVER THE YEARS, hundreds of
young people stayed in our home for
Shabbatot or holidays, but one young
woman remained vivid in my memory.
Unceremoniously, we called her “The
Girl in the Bomb Shelter.” A cousin to a
visiting yeshiva boy, Taryn appeared in the
middle of the night. Apparently, halfway
through a teen-tour, she’d had a falling
out and was told that if she could find a
safe place until her parent-approved flight
departed, she could go.
A cab dropped her off at midnight
and I had no space for this bedraggled,
dread-locked girl. With my own children,
a nephew and two lone-soldiers sleeping, I tossed a futon into the overstuffed
safe-room. She seemed content to sleep
among cartons of Passover dishes, duffel
bags filled with clothing for charity, gas-masks and
shelves that groaned beneath obsolete textbooks and
broken fans.
Nightly, she pulled shut the weighty door of the
airless shelter and emerged only after we’d been up for
hours. Showing no signs of leaving, the Girl-in-theBomb-Shelter even added a few personal items to the
family shopping list. Saying little, she conveyed views
of Judaism and Jewish identity that were at odds with
our Orthodox lifestyle. We invited her to come to
synagogue and loaned her a skirt. She was respectful
and seemed to enjoy the services. Eventually, she left
for America.
She returned seven years later to teach English in a
poor southern community. I’d seen on Facebook that
she was active in streams of Judaism that make me
uncomfortable and I did not reach out to her. Still,
she called several times and we finally met for dinner.
I almost choked on a falefal ball when she said that
I was the reason she’d returned to Israel. “You told me
that it was alright if I accidentally turned off the light
on Shabbos or put a dish in the wrong sink. Until
then, I’d felt like an outsider when I wanted ‘in.’” The
Jewish groups that welcomed her with open arms did

Jlife

DRAWING BY PEPE FAINBERG

Small Gestures of Greatness

not provide her with the spirituality she yearned for;
they seemed to celebrate every exception and none of
the rules she ached to know. Still, I felt ashamed by
an awareness that my Orthodox synagogue offered no
warm-and-fuzzy greetings to outsiders. Refreshingly
free of egoism and a truth-seeker to her core, she
remembered that she trusted me and was determined
to stay in touch.
If not for her tenacious spirit, Taryn’s quest for
authenticity might have waned and died. We decided
to learn together in the remaining weeks of her stay.
Consequently, I relearned much of what I’d loved on
my own journey toward Torah observance.
What events potentially result in self-exploration
and a deeper excursion toward discovering our eternal
birthright? Can a comment uttered in passing alter a
life? Perhaps no more is needed than a word, a meal,
an open house or a forgiving heart.
Then, again, maybe it just takes a bed in the bomb
shelter. . . A
New York-born Andrea Simantov is a mother of six
who moved to Jerusalem in 1995. She frequently
lectures on the complexity and magic of life in
Jerusalem and can be contacted at andreasimantov@gmail.com.

HE DID NOT
SPEAK UP
FOR JEWISH
KIDS WHO
ARE BEING
BULLIED
DAILY FOR
SIMPLY BEING
JEWISH.
18 AUGUST 2015 |

IN A FEW short days Jon Stewart
leaves the Daily Show.
Heavier hitters than me have
spilled ink to say goodbye, but I
can’t let this moment go without
adding my voice to the chorus, particularly since I quietly said “goodbye” a while ago.
There was a time when I didn’t
miss a single episode. Before choosing a vacation spot, I’d insist on
staying in hotels that offer Comedy
Central. Among my keepsakes I
include a recorded episode of the
Daily Show that aired the day my
first child was born.
Then last summer, something
changed. When the world started
to show its fangs toward Israel, when college campuses
decided to provide warm homes to organized Bigotry,
Defamation and Slander (that’s what BDS stands for,
right?), when social media started to suffocate under
the weight of casual, unquestioned anti-Semitism, Jon
Stewart didn’t say a word.
He has spoken up for veterans, he has spoken up for
Iranians, but he did not speak up for Jewish kids who are
being bullied daily—just as he reportedly once was—for
simply being Jewish.
Stewart’s views on Israel don’t comport with mine.
That’s fine. I can listen to, respect and laugh at wellwritten jokes that I don’t agree with. But I can’t laugh at
silence. Silence isn’t funny.
I believe Jon Stewart had an obligation to say something about the bullying on college campuses and the
wildly asymmetrical hatred being directed at his brethren on social media. He, apparently, did not.
So my DVR started to fill up. Episodes were getting
deleted before I had a chance to watch them. Hubby
noticed the difference but, a little jealous of my talkshow crush, said nothing.
When Jon Stewart announced he was leaving, I felt
sad, but not devastated. Stewart is leaving me? I already
left him.

Jlife

And then Charleston happened.
When news that a hate-filled villain with a gun terrorized and murdered nine innocent churchgoers, I along
with countless others, ingested all I could handle of the
horror. And then we all waited until the next day. To
hear how Jon Stewart was going to handle it.
After the Towers fell, after this nation elected its first
black president, after anything of consequence has happened in the last 17 years, Jon Stewart provided the
quintessentially American—and inadvertently Jewish—
perspective.
During that first monologue after the shooting, when
he said, “Al-Qaeda, all those guys, ISIS. They’re not sh-t
compared to the damage that we can apparently do to
ourselves on a regular basis,” he both declared something that all Americans need to hear, and he summed
up every story that Sholem Aleichem ever wrote.
So, Jon, meet me at Camera 3: Baby, how can I stay
mad at what you didn’t say, when I recognize so much
Jewish wisdom in what you’re saying now? Stew-Beef, I
want to get back together.
Just in time to say goodbye. A
Mayrav Saar is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles.

Jlife

| AUGUST 2015 19

Israeli Guy | BY TEDDY WEINBERGER

VIEWPOINT

People of the Book?
Primary education in Israel.

STUDENTS
FREQUENTLY
PERFORM AT
THE BOTTOM
OF THE
SCALE IN
COMPARISON
WITH THEIR
PEERS
ABROAD.
20 AUGUST 2015 |

JEWS IN AMERICA are extremely committed to
school. Throughout America, Jewish children are
overrepresented in magnet schools, AP classes and
prep courses. And it’s almost unheard of for a Jewish
American not to pursue higher education soon after
graduation from high school. It would be tempting to
think that in the Jewish state, every school would be a
magnet school, every child a bookworm, every citizen a
college graduate. The reality of the situation is that the
education system in Israel is pitiful. Classes are overcrowded, teachers are underpaid, children routinely
finish school by early afternoon, the state invests little
in education relative to other western countries, and
students frequently perform at the bottom of the scale
in comparison with their peers abroad.
A long strike a few years ago of middle and high
school teachers is very instructive. Israeli society simply adjusted to the fact that its 7th-12th graders were
not in school for eight full weeks. They adjusted to the
fact that these young people went to bed every night at
about 3:00 a.m. and woke up after noon. As the strike
went on day after day, it ceased to be a leading news
item. Unless there was some “action” (such as the mass
rally in Rabin square that brought about 60,000 children, parents, and teachers out in support of the strikers), radio headlines stopped referring to the strike and
newspapers started burying articles about the strike on
their inside pages.
The Prime Minister at the time (Ehud Olmert)
could not be bothered, it seemed. Asked about the
proposition that he meet with the head of the teachers’ union, he said: “With all due respect, there is no
reason why the union head should meet with the prime
minister in person.” This statement was in a newspaper
article marking day #35 of the strike. Had primaryschool teachers struck, the country would have been
up in arms, and the strike would have been settled in a
matter of days—since parents cannot leave small children at home alone all day. But no such urgency was
felt during this abominably long strike.
Israel’s school system gets excellent marks for paying close attention to the emotional and social needs
Jlife

of its students. But at times it seems that the system
is designed so that any academic learning that takes
place between grades 1-12 is regarded as some kind of
“bonus.” It doesn’t help matters that reforms and new
initiatives brought by one Minister of Education often
last only as long as the government in which that minister serves, and in the case of Minister of Education,
Shay Piron and the last Israeli Government, this period
was just a little over a year and a half. I wish the current
Minister of Education, Naftali Bennett, good luck in
his new position—he’s going to need it. A
Teddy Weinberger, Ph.D., is Director of Development
for a consulting company called Meaningful. He
made aliyah with his family in 1997 from Miami,
where he was an assistant professor of religious
studies. Teddy and his wife, Sarah Jane Ross, have
five children.

oking aside, Bob Saget is
a mensch. His call, on a
Friday afternoon, accommodated my schedule and he still
made sure it was a good time.
Introducing himself as “Bob”
I almost forgot with whom
I was speaking. Bob Saget: actor, comedian,
musician, and advocate, had called me! Yes, it
was scheduled, but still… Bob Saget.
While I only caught a glimpse of his
humor, intelligence, and creativity, members
and guests of the Solomon Society of Jewish
Federation & Family Services (JFFS) will have
the opportunity to see and hear him in all of
his “R-ratedness” at the City National Grove
of Anaheim on September 10. “Late Night
with Solomon Society” is the largest annual
gathering of Jewish men in Orange County
and features a marquee comedian each year.
This year the event will headline Bob Saget,
with Mensch of the Year Award recipient
Howard Mirowitz, and Master of Ceremonies
Elon Gold.
Saget is honored to be headlining this event.
A veteran to fundraising, Saget put scleroder-

22 AUGUST 2015 |

Jlife

ma on the map and has helped to raise millions
for the once unknown disfiguring disease that
took his sister’s life at age 47. Raising money
around the country for scleroderma, Saget
says, “I have no choice but to do this.”
Saget, who was raised Jewish, Bar Mitzvah’d,
and continues to “love the culture and religion,” is all for the support and betterment of
the Jewish community and Israel. How does
he feel about performing at a Jewish event?
“It’s an all guy thing. But they can be the
toughest audience. And it’s Jewish guys, so
double down on the toughness!” But despite
the tough crowd, Saget is honored to be performing at the Grove.
In addition to fundraising and performing
at fundraisers, Saget is very busy these days.
While not on the road, he is currently writing
an independent film, and working on Netflix’s
“Fuller House.” “It will be fun,” says Saget.
“We are close to having the full cast and getting together to show where everyone is.”
Always busy, Saget said he has to stop touring
to recharge. “I’m in a nice place right now.”
Saget continues to do a lot of writing just a
year after the release of his NY Times bestseller

book, Dirty Daddy, detailing how comedy got
him through life’s pain. “There has been a lot
of death in my family…” says Saget. Not only
did Saget lose his sister Gay to scleroderma,
Saget’s other sister Andrea died from a brain
aneurysm at the age of 34; Saget’s father passed
away in 2007. “We’re [comedians] good at
what we do because of pain.”
Saget did not always want to be a comedian; his early aspirations were medicine. He
graduated from Temple University with a
Documentary Film degree. But humor and
comedy are innate in Saget and at 17 he officially began to make people laugh. “I did not
choose comedy, it’s just who I am… I love
comedy, I don’t study it, I just want to do it.”
He hit the comedy scene in 1978 when Billy
Crystal was just cutting his teeth on a comedy
called Soap, and Saget was “all guitar.” “It
[comedy] is all about the human condition.”
Does Saget have a favorite comedian? “Don
Rickles, he has been like a dad to me. I was
at his 89th birthday—it is a pleasure to sit
in the presence of Don and [Rickles’ wife]
Barbara. He is iconic and gut funny.” He has
had the opportunity to work with other icons

PHOTO BY BRIAN FRIEDMAN

COVER STORY

Jlife

| AUGUST 2015 23

COVER STORY

PHOTO BY KEVIN WINTER

Actors Mimi Rogers (L),
Bob Saget and director
Troy Miller talk at the
premiere of ‘Dumb and
Dumberer: When Harry
Met Lloyd’ at the Loews
Universal City on June
11, 2003 in Los Angeles,
California.

Humor and
comedy
are innate
in Saget
and at 17
he officially
began to
make people
laugh.

of comedy as well: Richard
Pryor, Robin Williams, Rodney
Dangerfield, Whoopi Goldberg
and Billy Crystal among others.
In 1991 Saget and his family
made their first trip to Israel.
When Saget speaks about the
trip it is clear it was an exciting
time for him, “We got to go to
the Temple Mount… Things were different
then. When you go to Israel you fall in love
with the land. It’s hard to understand why we
cannot get along…But I do understand why
people have such passion.”
In addition to headlining Bob Saget,
Solomon Society will honor Howard Mirowitz
as Mensch of the Year for 2015. Mirowitz
served as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance
Committee of JFFS for several years; he was the
co-founder of JFFS’s Montefiore Society, and
he currently co-chairs The Network division of
JFFS and serves on JFFS’s Board of Directors
and Finance Committee. During his tenure as
Treasurer, Mirowitz assisted with navigating
the financial aspects of the complex merger
process between Jewish Federation and Jewish
Family Services, with the financial aspects of
constructing and opening Mandel House, and
with advising JFFS Community Partners on
financial and strategic planning matters. He
also stepped in to act as temporary CFO in
2013, directly managing JFFS’s accounting
operations for several months, including the
preparation and approval process for the orga24 AUGUST 2015 |

Jlife

nization’s 2014 budget, while
coordinating JFFS’s search
for a new CFO. Mirowitz
was a member of the Board
of Directors of Congregation
B’nai Israel for many years,
and he also served as Treasurer
and President of the Bureau of
Jewish Education. He currently
serves on the Hebrew Academy’s Finance
Committee.
Mirowitz’s community service record spans
nearly two decades and includes not only
the Jewish community but also charities and
community work in the broader community.
Mirowitz, who has been involved with JFFS
for many years, was also nominated for the
Spirit of Volunteerism award given by OneOC
in 2013.
And what about Bob? The veteran performer that he is, Saget still worries about his edgy
and adult only performances, “I hope I don’t
offend anyone…”
“Well,” I said, “People attending the event
know who is performing and should know
what to expect—they’re hoping for Bob Saget.”
If you are looking for the Bob Saget of Full
House, you may want to watch reruns and
checkout Fuller House on Netflix when it is
released. If you are hoping for the edgy and
adult oriented Bob Saget, then make sure you
get your seat for Late Night with Solomon
Society on September 10. Late Night with
Solomon Society may never be the same. A

Solomon
Society
Inspired by the wisdom and
leadership of King Solomon,
Solomon Society of JFFS is
Orange County’s fellowship
of dynamic Jewish men—
brothers, fathers, sons and
friends—who today inspire
each other through Jewish
values and commitment to
community.
Through business and social
networking, leadership,
philanthropy and leveraging
its collective power, Solomon
Society provides our
community with assistance
when needed and support for
Jews in Orange County, Israel
and around the world.
Contact:
Doris Jacobson or
Adrienne Domash
(949) 435-3484
SolomonSociety@JFFS.org

F E AT U R E S

Sue Penn

A 21
CENTURY
EDUCATOR
ST

Meeting Needs is the Primary Goal

PHOTO BY CHARLES WEINBERG

BY FLORENCE L. DANN

26 AUGUST 2015 |

Jlife

F E AT U R E S

SUE PENN WAS born in South Africa and raised as an orthodox Jew that shapes the outcome.
in a large extended family where her cousins were her best friends. She
Developing programs that meet the unique and individual needs
came to the U.S. when the men in the family were conscripted, and of children has been a hallmark of Penn’s approach to Jewish educarefused to fight for the apartheid state. When she assisted the teachers tion; and the five programs she oversees, provide opportunities for a
in her children’s classes, Penn was encouraged to go back to school wide range of congregants and their families. “Traditional” classes are
and pursue a career in education. After receiving her Master’s Degree held on Sunday mornings which includes a Shacharit service, and a
she taught at the Hebrew Academy and Tarbut V’ Torah. Eight curriculum designed for each age level focusing on Hebrew, history,
years ago she became the Religious School Director at University values, Israel and liturgy. What drives Penn’s continuous push toward
Synagogue (US) in Irvine and since then has become a leader and an innovation is one ideal: “Every Jewish child needs to have a positive
innovator in Jewish Education.
Jewish education regardless of their learning styles. We focus on what
President of RENA (the Reconstructionist
the child can do, not what the child is unable to
Educators of North America), Penn is currently the
do.” That includes those students for whom the
Director of Congregational Learning at University
classroom environment is overly challenging.
Synagogue; and in the years since she has been at
The Alternative Jewish Education (AJE) program
US, the scope of programming has been expanded
was developed for those students. “Once a month
and the approach of traditional religious school
We focus
they meet at a local campground,” said Penn.
has been re-envisioned. She has been on the cut“There they participate in prayer services, Hebrew
on what the
ting edge of new programming, so necessary in the
study and focus on building a sense of community
child can do
21st century.
by ‘doing Jewish’ with other students.” This involves
not what the
Most in the Jewish community agree that Jewish
celebrating calendar and life cycle events that take
education will and should remain a vehicle for
child is unable
place within the group. “Perhaps the main differshaping identity, instilling literacy, inspiring comto do.
ence between this program and traditional school,
mitment and forging community. Jewish texts,
“said Penn, “is that it provides a relaxed and less
values, history, traditions, and the knowledge and
formal environment. It doesn’t feel like school.”
skills needed to appreciate these and actualize them
Penn also oversees the extensive Adult Education program that
in one’s life, will continue to be the “stuff ” of which Jewish learning includes a wide variety of classes, from Yoga and Tai Chi to Torah,
is made.
Talmud and Musar. More than 20 classes are offered every year. US
However, the HOW it is to be accomplished has shifted. Though Bridges, one of the newer programs is designed for people with early
the new vision for Jewish education builds on many elements from
to mid-stages of memory loss.
Jewish past; the focus has shifted in two important ways: recognizing
“Our Youth Group programs are also really special,” said Penn,
the learner as an active agent in fashioning his/her own learning experience, and using the social experience of learning as a dynamic force
Continued on page 29

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28 AUGUST 2015 |

Jlife

F E AT U R E S

PHOTO BY CHARLES WEINBERG

Continued from page 27

Sue Penn with Teen Director Rebecca Robinson.

“and provide engaging opportunities for those in 3rd to 12th grades.”
Each level has specific events and activities within both the synagogue
and greater community.
The SABABA program brings together teens from US and other
Orange County congregations for a variety of evening activities.
SABABA, which means “no worries”, is designed for Jewish teens
to just get together and socialize without pressures of formalized
learning--an example of the social experience of learning.
“Next year,” said Penn,” our teens will participate in a four-week
college prep program with those from other synagogues, to provide
them with an understanding of Israel and Middle East issues before

possibly confronting the anti-Israel sentiment on college campuses. We will be hosting two of the four weeks here at University
Synagogue.”
Penn feels privileged to work in an environment that encourages
innovation, where when challenged with a new request, “I don’t have
to say ‘no.’” Several years ago the grandchild of a member wanted to
become a bat mitzvah, but there were no synagogues in her area. Penn
designed a program via Skype which is still in use. “There are many
reasons why a student is unable to be physically present, so we do not
want that to prevent the child from receiving training,” asserted Penn.
This focus on individual learning needs and styles is what Penn
is most passionate about and she has a developed a reputation for
meeting children where they are, allowing them to learn as they are
able. The effects of this approach have paid off. “There is an increase
of children remaining connected to Jewish education,” commented
Penn. “It used to be that kids came in and stayed until their bar/
bat mitzvah for a total of two to three years. Today,” she added, “I
see kids staying five to eight years.” And when the kids stay—so do
their parents!
While Penn has received recognition for her programming, she
is quick to express her gratitude to the synagogue for providing her
with the resources to develop specialized programs as well as the many
people who mentored and supported her. Chief among them is her
husband Dovi and their three children; but there have been others:
Elmore Weingarden, Natalye Black (z”l), Carol Richmond, Miriam
Leavitt and Rabbi Arnie Rachlis.
Penn sees the challenges of the changing Jewish landscape not as an
obstacle but as an opportunity to expand the depth and breadth of
Jewish learning for the entire community. A
Florence L. Dann, a fourth year rabbinical student at the Academy
for Jewish Religion in LA has been a contributing writer to Jlife
since 2004.

A PROVEN ADVOCATE FOR
RESOLUTION OF DIVORCE, CUSTODY
AND FINANCIAL CHALLENGES

Courtney Shepard is an aggressive
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One of the most
appealing aspects of
investing in an Israeli
company is the value.

AN ANGEL
(INVESTOR)
AMONG US
Cornell Professor Roni Michaely Forges
the Path To Investments In Israel
BY LISA GRAJEWSKI, PSY.D.

RONI MICHAELY IS putting Israel on the
map in a major way—and it is not through
politics or agriculture. As Professor of Finance
and Entrepreneurship Program at the CornellTech program in New York City, Michaely
engages students with startup companies in
Israel. “The [Cornell] tech program will be to
New York what Stanford is to Silicon Valley,”
Says Michaely.
When asked if he sees himself as an ambassador of sorts, Michaely replies, “It’s about the
startup world, not Netanyahu.” But he may be
more of an ambassador than he knows. This
30 AUGUST 2015 |

Jlife

year 45 students will participate in a program
between Cornell and Israel’s Technion. He
predicts the number will jump to 150 students
in three years time. “By exposing students
to Israel’s technology many will go on to be
hired by companies in Israel. Through this
program [the students] are getting acquainted
with many of the 5,000 startups in Israel,”
says Michaely.
The U.S. has Silicon Valley; Israel has the
Negev. The next area targeted for substantial
investment is Beersheva--this is where the next
big cyber center will be located. And, accord-

ing to Michaely, “American companies are
already investing in the South (Israel).”
Perhaps one of the most appealing aspects
of dealing with a company in Israel is the
value. According to Michaely, the companies
in Israel are doing the same thing (for a lot
less) as the companies in Silicon Valley and
New York.
This is where the angel investors come in.
“Angel investing is like growing a new
baby...,” says Michaely. “Startups need help
growing. Like parents you do it alongside
someone who knows what they are doing. It
is not just about the big bucks, you can be
supportive, provide resources, networks, and
vendors. If you want to increase the potentiality of the investment provide advice, support
and expertise.”
Finally, you must find an angel investor
with credibility. “Everyone can talk the talk—
you need to find someone who can walk the
walk.” That means finding an investor who
understands the intricacies of business and
understands how much and what to invest.
And, you do not need to go at it alone; there
are individuals such as Michaely who are willing to guide others who are interested in angel
investments in Israel. You can also use iAngel, which is helping individuals invest their
money in Israeli startups by following experts.
So, you do not have to be a billionaire to
invest in startups—just an angel. If you are
interested in finding out more about investing
in Israel contact Jlife Magazine at editorjlife@
gmail.com and we will connect you with
Professor Michaely. A
Originally from Israel, Professor Roni
Michaely is a Rudd Family Professor of
Management and a Professor of Finance
at Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate
School of Management. He obtained his
Ph.D. from New York University.
Lisa Grajewski, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist and adjunct Assistant Professor
at The Chicago School of Professional
Psychology. She has been a contributing
writer for Jlife magazine since 2004.

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looking for the few and the best. Part of
your responsibility will require flying turbo
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Former Israeli Air Force officers will be
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be provided be provided only in person.

I DIDN’T ALWAYS want to be a rabbi. I never
had visions of myself standing on the bima,
leading services, quoting Torah and Talmud, or
counseling people. Yet, now, many years later
I understand that somewhere, deep within my
being, the desire was there. It just took almost a
lifetime to recognize it.
While I wasn’t raised in a very observant
home and we never belonged to a synagogue,
I always loved Judaism—the rituals, the Torah
stories—a sense of being special. My father, a
secular, cultural Jew, used to speak reverently
about the ethics inherent in our tradition and
our history. He came to love Judaism in his
adult years. The only formal education he had
32 AUGUST 2015 |

Jlife

was as a young boy in the cheder in his home
town of Neshem, Russia. The 1905 pogroms
ended that when the family left for America.
But when he was in his forties, a close friend
became his mentor and introduced him to the
beauty and legacy of Judaism.
When I came home from Jewish summer
camp and wanted to light candles, there was no
objection, but no real motivation to continue
once I stopped urging my mother to do so. At 11
years of age, I wanted to prepare for a bas mitzvah—but we didn’t have a conservative shul in
our neighborhood or the money to invest. (I did
have one though, 40 years later.) But through the
years, I read and learned on my own. I became
a fan of Martin Buber, Abraham Joshua Heschel
and then ultimately Mordecai Kaplan.
After moving to California from New York, I
decided to join a Reconstructionist synagogue-the first I had ever belonged to. I became an
active member, often leading services, teaching
in Religious School, and serving as Vice president of the West Coast Region of the Jewish
Reconstructionist Federation (JRF) for four
years. But with all that, the idea of becoming a
rabbi—of going back to school at an age when
most retire--never seriously entered my mind.
Upon receiving a service award from the JRF I
spoke briefly to the assemblage—after which my
rabbi whispered, “In another life you could be a
rabbi.” Wow! I was tremendously flattered, and
when I shared what he had said with two friends
who were attending rabbinical school, they said,
“Why another life? Why not in this life?”
My reaction was both astonishment and terror. Pshaw, I thought. I don’t have the time, or
the money—and I wondered if my grey cells

F E AT U R E S

would be up to the challenge. For five years, my
friends continued to urge me, but I would have
none of it. And then I attended an open house
at the Academy for Jewish Religion for an article
I was writing. I was intrigued; a trans-denominational seminary, with students of all ages and
a faculty as diverse as they were welcoming.
Everyone I interviewed asked me why I
wasn’t applying—and I gave them my standard
reasons—money, time. But the real reason was
fear! I looked over the application and froze-three essays, transcripts from every school,
three referrals, a psych interview, and on and
on. I put the application away. Two years later,
after attending my friends’ ordination, I began
to question my initial reaction and wonder if I
could really do that.
I pulled out the application and decided
to slowly take the steps to complete it. In the
meantime, I would enroll for one course—
Hebrew 1. That was beginning of what would
be a seven-year journey. But it was at our
annual retreat, that first year, at the Monday
morning Shacharit service that I knew it was
where I wanted to be. I was filled with a sense
of belonging I had never known.
Joseph Campbell always spoke and wrote
about finding your bliss. And I used to ask
myself—“What is my bliss?” I would review all
work I had done, and while there were parts of
each job I liked—none of them was “my bliss.”
But at that Monday morning service, I knew. I
also knew that it is the process of becoming a
rabbi that was the bliss—the joy.
Now, five years later, I am only a year’s worth
of classes away from my ordination and I have
loved every minute. But why did it take so long?

About 30 years ago, my sister called to tell me
that all my college books that had been stored in
her basement in New York had been destroyed
in a flood. However, she had insurance money
and I needed to tell her which books I would
like to purchase. Aside from the YALE desk
dictionary, the complete works of Shakespeare
and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes,
I asked for the tractates of the Steinsaltz Talmud,
the Sefer Ha Aggadah and several other Jewish
texts. When they arrived, I couldn’t make head
or tail of them so I placed them on my bookshelves where I felt they looked rather good.
Uncannily, twenty five years later, I began using
them. Maybe somewhere deep down inside I
did know what my bliss was.
What took so long was a combination of
things: the era in which I grew up, parental
and societal expectations, and fear. Not the
spine tingling fear we feel when confronted
with danger, but the nagging doubt that gnaws
at the edges of our confidence. Perhaps that
is what keeps many from venturing into new
areas of endeavor. Going back to school can
seem overwhelming—but I see it as part of
one’s personal evolution. When I was young,
going to school was like going to vocational
school—to acquire a skill or credential so you
can get a job. I am frequently asked what I will
do once I am ordained.
It is my hope to share what I have learned
and experienced. But for right now, my focus is
the learning. A

The idea of becoming
a rabbi—of going back
to school at an age
when most retire—
never seriously entered
my mind.

Florence L. Dann, a fourth year rabbinical student at the Academy for Jewish
Religion in LA has been a contributing
writer to Jlife since 2004.

Discussing
Torah text
with University
Synagogue
faculty members.

Jlife

| AUGUST 2015 33

F E AT U R E S

Examining
Floyd’s medals.

TALE OF
A DONOR
Behind the Scenes at Yad Vashem, Jerusalem
BY MARK GOODLEY

THIS STORY BEGINS in Germany, 1945. At
the end of the war, thousands of Nazi soldiers
were being rounded up, and sent off to holding
camps. As they were being processed, possessions
were given away, often to a pastor or priest. One
of these pastors, US Army Chaplain, Captain
Floyd Rolf later became a close family friend. We
were perhaps his only Jewish friends?
On an otherwise unmemorable day, 51 years
ago, Floyd was at our home and asked my father
if he would like to have the Nazi medals and
war memorabilia he had collected. My father,
very understandably replied “Absolutely NOT, I
want NOTHING Nazi!”… patient Pastor Floyd,
thought, and carefully replied; “Please ask Mark,
maybe he would want them?”
I’ve never seen a look on a face, before or
34 AUGUST 2015 |

Jlife

since, like the look on my father’s that day when
he told me this story. Agitation, sadness, curiosity… He held a hard brown and gold cigar box.
“Floyd asked me, to ask you, if you’d like these
Nazi medals from World War II?”… silence…
A seven-year-old boy replied almost immediately “YES!... to remember.” My father’s face
was first shocked, then smiled, a strange, sad,
surprised and awkward smile.
I have carried those medals with me, for over
fifty years. Not often remembering them, but
thinking of them… from time to time, I’d been
offered large sums, but not by people I would be
comfortable having them.
Upon my father’s passing last year in Jerusalem
(Kiryat Yearim), and somewhere along the timeline of saying his daily Kaddish, the medals and

Floyd came to mind… I wondered if maybe, Yad
Vashem would want them?... or would they react
the same way as my father had those fifty some
years before? “I want NOTHING Nazi!”
I wrote on an early Friday morning; comforting myself they wouldn’t reply until the
next week… thereby postponing the “inevitable” rejection. Their answer came quickly in
a Sunday morning email: “yes,” they wanted
the medals.
The head of restorations began her email with
a warning: print out all our correspondence, and
keep it at all times with the medals. Israeli airport customs would likely not look kindly upon
Nazi War items.
We took the tram from City Center and
arrived at the top of Mt. Herzl… down the hill,
a staff member met us at the main entrance and
escorted us to a back room.
I unwrapped the medals. For some reason
that I can’t explain, I had kept them wrapped in
my blue Bar Mitzvah Tallis bag. She told me my
choice was “very interesting,” but “I’ve seen it
before” with a warm smile… I felt comfortable
with her understanding, yet embarrassed by the
paradox I had created.
This wasn’t a trivial dust off setup. Ongoing
restorations of silverware, dolls, books, furniture,
artwork, etc. were everywhere. What struck me
was the care, love and meticulous attention to
detail that was invested in every item. These
people truly loved and respected the owners of
these items, not just the items themselves.
She escorted us, room by room, through
countless numbers of well marked and organized
drawers, opening many for us to examine. Every
item had a unique and personal ID. The intentional intent being to “capture” the murdered
person they had belonged to.
After returning, I received a nice “Thank You”
letter.
After 50 years of wandering, Floyd’s medals
were finally home, where they belonged. A
Mark Goodley is a contributing writer to
Jlife magazine.

Jlife

| AUGUST 2015 35

F E AT U R E S

Anita’s favorite
cartoon which she
uses as a therapeutic
tool that always keep
her laughing.

SHPILKES
A Parkinson’s Support Group
with a Jewish Perspective
BY TANYA SCHWIED

IN A COZY booth at Mimi’s Café is
where I first had the pleasure of meeting Anita Austin. Not only is she charming and lovely—she is also the incredibly
brave and creative visionary behind Orange
County’s first Parkinson’s peer-to-peer support group with a Jewish perspective. JFFS
and Congregation B’nai Israel have partnered with Anita in this venture—the group
will provide a place for people living with
this disease to “kvech and kvell” with one
another, share triumphs and losses, build a
community and a common bond.
The first thing she asks me when I sit
down is, “Do you know what Shpilkes
means? It’s Yiddish for “I gotta get outta
here—I’m nervous—I have ants in my
36 AUGUST 2015 |

Jlife

pants.” Instead of saying Parkinson’s in
a hushed tone—Shpilkes is a clever way
to keep things light with a little Jewish
sense of humor. She talks to me about
her inspiration, Michael J. Fox, and all
the incredible work he is doing with the
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s
Research and she thought it was about
time for her to start something of her own.
In the beginning stages during the formation of the group, Anita was asked if she
was prepared to be the face of Parkinson’s
in the Jewish community? Her response?
“Yah! Bring it on!”
Anita has had Parkinson’s (ahem
“Shpilkes”) for nine years. Early on in her
diagnosis she describes the experience as a

complete shock and this can’t be happening to her—at one point she was in line at
the grocery store and was “frozen”—one of
the most difficult symptoms of the disease,
unable to move. She also began to notice
most of her friends at her doctor’s support
group would get solace from their Christian
organizations and she wanted a place to go
where she could wrestle with the really big,
unanswerable questions that anyone diagnosed with such a disease would ask... Why
did this happen to me?
At the time there was nothing specific to
the Jewish community where Anita could go
and be surrounded by likeminded individuals with her faith and “Shpilkes.” The group
that she formed is held at Congregation
B’nai Israel—Rabbi Elie Spitz even gave
a short sermon to the group at their first
meeting. It is important to Anita that the
group still has their sense of humor—you
can laugh through the pain.
Come to kibitz and build relationships
with others in the community who are
living, loving and most importantly, still
laughing with Parkinson’s. The group meets
on the 2nd Monday of each month from
10:30a.m.-12p.m. at Congregation B’nai
Israel—Bet Midrash room, 211 Bryan
Avenue Tustin, CA. Wheelchair accessible.
RSVP to Allison Johnson, LMFT at JFFS
Tel: (949) 435-3484 ext. 365 or Allison@
jffs.org. A
Tanya Schwied graduated from New York
University, studied abroad in Israel, and currently works for the CEO and President of
Jewish Federation & Family Services.

949.388.3525 • 32840 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite B, Dana Point, CA 92629
We are still in the same building at the corner of PCH and Crown Valley Parkway.

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out&about
THE PHANTOM
OF THE OPERA
The Phantom of The Opera
comes to Segerstrom Center
Aug. 5–16 as part of its brand
new North American Tour.
This Phantom features a
brilliant new scenic design by
Paul Brown, costume design
by Maria Björnson, lighting
design by Paule Constable,
new choreography by
Scott Ambler, and a new
staging by director Laurence
Connor. The beloved story
and thrilling score—with
songs like “Music of the
Night,” “All I Ask Of You,”
and “Masquerade”—will be
performed by a cast and
orchestra of 52, making this
Phantom one of the largest
productions now on tour.

Richard Kaufman

STEPHEN
STILLS
Stephen Stills plays two
nights at the Coach House
Concert Hall in San Juan
Capistrano Aug. 4 and 5. Stills
is one of rock music’s most
enduring figures with a career
now spanning six decades,
multiple solo works, and four
hugely influential groups. Stills
was ranked #28 on Rolling
Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest
Guitarists of All Time.

The 49th Sawdust Art Festival
takes place on Laguna
Canyon Road in Laguna
Beach until Sun, Aug 30 and
is open daily from 10a.m.
– 10p.m. The Sawdust will
feature the fine art and craft of
over 200 Laguna Beach artists
and is sure to be the highlight
of your summer adventures.
Art enthusiasts, collectors,
and novice artists have come
to the Sawdust since our
beginning in 1966 for our mix
of fine art and craft.

Orange County summer
nights are not complete
without the final concerts at
the Orange County Fair. This
year’s concerts series runs
from Aug. 1–16 and includes
performances for great acts
like Huey Lewis & The News,
Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo,
Echo & The Bunnymen and
Berlin, Fifth Harmony, The
B-52s and The English Beat,
Steel Pulse and The Wailers,
and many more.

ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE | August 2015

Chris
Isaak
Grammy nominated
singer-songwriter, actor
and talk show host Chris
Isaak will be headlining
the City National Grove
of Anaheim on August 11.
With a career spanning
over twenty-five years,
his iconic vocal style
has garnered enormous
acclaim and his songs
have been featured in
numerous films and
television shows.
Throughout his
impressive recording
career—right from his
stunning 1985 debut to
his latest stellar effort,
Beyond The Sun—Chris
Isaak has tunefully and
artfully explored the
many complex facets
of love and matters of
profound human interest.
He has done so with
an abiding respect for
popular music’s past, but
at the same time with
clear and vital passion for
the here and now.
Isaak’s best-known
song Wicked Game was
released in 1989 as part
of the Heart Shaped
World, album with an
instrumental version of
the song later featured
in the 1990 David Lynch
film Wild at Heart. Lee
Chesnut, an Atlanta radio
station music director
who was obsessed with
Lynch films, played the
vocal version and it

became the station’s
most-requested song.
Chesnut spread the word
to other radio stations
and the single became
a national Top 10 hit in
February 1991.
The accurately titled
Beyond the Sun, Isaak’s
Vanguard Records debut,
is a self-described labor
of love. Since he fell in
love with his parents’ 45s
as a child, this passionate
writer/artist has been
obsessed with the glory
days of Memphis’ Sun
Studio and the visionary
artists who got their
starts there—including
Elvis Presley, Johnny
Cash, Roy Orbison,

Carl Perkins and Jerry
Lee Lewis—all of them
discovered and nurtured
by producer Sam
Phillips. Now, at long
last, Isaak recaptures
the brilliance of Sun
Studio, and beyond, by
paying tribute to the
roots of Rock ‘n’ Roll with
renditions of classics,
plus new, original selfpenned tunes.
Isaak’s self-produced,
Beyond the Sun was
recorded mostly at
the historic Sun Studio
in Memphis with his
longtime band—bass
player Rowland Salley
and drummer Kenney
Dale Johnson, who’ve

been with him from
the start, and he has
also added guitarist
Hershel Yatovitz, pianist
Scott Plunkett and
percussionist Rafael
Padilla. The album
also features a guest
performance by the
Memphis legend,
‘Cowboy’ Jack Clement.
On May 3, 2015, Isaak
was confirmed to be
replacing Redfoo on the
seventh season of The X
Factor Australia. He will
be joining James Blunt
and returning judges
Guy Sebastian and
Dannii Minogue.

Chris Isaak

39

PHOTO BY ANN GAGNO

A&E

40 AUGUST 2015 |

Israeli-Style Satay with
Tahini Dipping Sauce

Jlife

A&E

CranberryBlueberry
Crumble

PHOTO BY ANN GAGNO

I believe
that you eat
with your
eyes first.

GOOD FOOD
Just add a pinch of “friends” and “fun.”
BY JUDY BART KANCIGOR

There is a scene in the blockbuster movie
“The Karate Kid” in which Daniel watches
Miyagi practice the crane technique and
asks him, “Could you teach me?”
“First learn stand, then learn fly,” Miyagi
responds.
Sure, we learn by taking baby steps, but
it also helps to have a great master to guide
us. That’s as true of cooking as anything
else, and the synergy between a great
teacher and a willing student can produce
spectacular results.
When Daniella Silver, a young mother
with a burning desire to write a cookbook,
dialed fellow Canadian Norene Gilletz,
the best-selling cookbook author and
“matriarch” of kosher cuisine, as she is
sometimes called, her heart began to race.
“What will she say?” Daniella thought. ”Will
she even meet with me?”
Daniella needn’t have worried; she
couldn’t have found a more generous
mentor than Norene. Food writer, culinary

consultant, cooking teacher, and now
food manufacturer (her individual kugels,
called “Koogletz,” came out this year),
Norene had fifty years’ experience and nine
cookbooks to her credit.
On the other hand, Daniella, for years
challenged by her children’s’ food allergies
and passionate about serving her family
healthful, attractive meals, had amassed
a collection of recipes and ideas, but in
order to turn her bulging binder into a
cookbook she needed help. That phone
call began a collaboration that resulted, two
years later, in “The Silver Platter: Simple
to spectacular wholesome, family-friendly
recipes” (Artscroll, $34.99) by Daniella Silver
and Norene Gilletz, with over 160 beautifully
photographed, easy-to-follow recipes.
“When I first met Daniella and saw her
passion and commitment,” Norene said, “I
was very excited about helping her achieve
her goal of writing her own cookbook.
Daniella reminded me of myself when I

was her age, a young mom, very involved
in community projects, highly energetic
and committed. Her passion for creating
spectacular food from simple ingredients
and her beautiful sense of color and design
blew me away.”
From childhood cooking and baking
had become Daniella’s outlet of artistic
expression. Descended from a long line
of fine artists and graphic designers,
Daniella is ever mindful of presentation,
as evidenced by the mouth-watering color
photos that accompany each recipe. “I
believe that you eat with your eyes first,”
she said, “so each dish was created to have
aesthetic appeal. Food has to look beautiful
to be appetizing.”
The recipes run the gamut from elegant
appetizers such as Roasted Asparagus with
Poached Eggs to everyday favorites like
Chunky Chili and Sesame Ginger Chicken,
to kid-friendly dishes such as Halibut Fish
Sticks, to hearty mains including Jalapeno
Short Ribs. The salads and sides are
standouts: Red Cabbage and Kale with
toasted sunflower seeds and hearts of
palm, Roasted Balsamic Tomatoes and
Feta, Black Rice with Mango, Pomegranate
and Avocado and all sorts of lovely quinoa
permutations. “I belong to the “desserty”
subset of foodie culture,” asserts Daniella,
so there is no lack of sweet treats, like
Almond Crusted Chocolate Tart and Chewy
Raspberry Oatmeal Bars.
Each recipe is accompanied by “Norene’s
Notes,” helpful hints or suggestions,
explanations of ingredients, serving options
and substitutions, and freezing and storage
instructions. We can almost see Norene,
ever the teacher, guiding Daniella—and us.
With grilling season upon us, IsraeliStyle Satay makes an elegant appetizer
for entertaining, while being easy enough
for family dinners. In Norene’s Notes we
learn that tahini “is made from ground
sesame seeds and makes a great addition
to hummus. To prevent it from becoming
rancid, store tahini in the refrigerator once
the container has been opened. This
tahini sauce keeps about two week in the
refrigerator.” And don’t let the lack of a grill
dissuade you from preparing this recipe.
“Sauté chicken strips in a nonstick skillet
for four to five minutes per side, or bake it,

Jlife

| AUGUST 2015 41

A&E

The synergy between a great teacher and a willing
student can produce spectacular results.

covered at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes,”
she suggests.
Nothing says summer like berries, and
I love this Cranberry-Blueberry Crumble.
Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice
cream on the side. Norene even offers
variations in her “Notes”: nectarines for
the cranberries or strawberries for the
blueberries.
With one daughter allergic to nuts
and another allergic to gluten, Daniella is
particularly mindful of these limitations.
Many of the recipes are gluten-free or offer
a gluten-free option, making them perfect
for Passover as well. “In eliminating certain
foods from our household,” she said, “I’ve
learned to understand what’s really involved
in choosing the best ingredients–what’s
healthy, what’s not; what’s processed, what’s
not; and most importantly, what I want to
serve my family to keep them satisfied,
strong and happy.”
The spirit of this unique collaboration of
the generations is best summed up in the
book’s opening line: “Good food goes best
with friends and family, and if you don’t
have an occasion, make one.”

5 Bake ramekins for 35-40 minutes or large
crumble for 45-55 minutes, until topping
is golden and juices are bubbly. Serve
warm or at room temperature.

Jlife food Editor Judy Bart Kancigor is the
author of “Cooking Jewish” (Workman) and
“The Perfect Passover Cookbook” (an e-book
short from Workman), a columnist and feature
writer for the Orange County Register and
other publications and can be found on the
web at www.cookingjewish.com.

BRING YOUR MOTHERS,
DAUGHTERS,
GRANDMOTHERS &
GRANDDAUGHTERS!
Last year 800 Jewish women baked together
— this year 1800 will bake together.
Be part of history at the largest OC challah bake in
a moment of Jewish pride. Don’t miss out, limited
space REGISTER NOW at ocmegachallahbake.com

47 Do it while chanting the final
prayer, at your service
55 Like 46-Down
56 Garr who costarred with Richard
Dreyfuss in “Close Encounters of
the Third Kind”
57 Home st. of Burt Bacharach’s
second wife, Angie Dickinson
58 Overdo it at the Seder, say
59 Help stealing the afikomen, say
60 Remove from an article intended
for this publication
61 2001 Holocaust movie “___
of the Lord”
62 Feast of ____ (Purim)
63 Red and Dead

IT’S A BIRD…It’s a Plane… It’s Superman!
(Close, it’s actually the Tzukit!)
Some of you might be wondering what
that is and what it symbolizes. The Tzukit is
the legendary airplane used by the Israeli Air
Force Aerobatic team that trained generations
of Israeli fighter pilots. A jet powered trainer
that is used in the selection process in the IAF
Flight School and for training cadets. It was
developed from the French Fouga Magister
that served the Israeli Air Force(IAF) as both
a jet combat plane and a trainer since 1960.
It just so happens that the Israeli air force is
selling its fleet of Tzukit and Avi Maltzman is
the man with a plan. The timing and opportunity will bring two of his passions together:
flying and sharing the glory of the Jews. Avi
has a deep family history of flying –it “runs
in his blood.” He is a second generation pilot

—his uncle was
a fighter pilot
in the IAF and
his father was
in the Special
Operations
Forces
in
World War
II. Having
come from a military background Avi remembers looking up to the
skies as a little boy and always knowing that is
where he wanted to be. His son, who grew up
in the U.S., decided to follow in his father’s
footsteps and join the Israeli Air Force.
The IAF is one of the most powerful
symbols of Israeli excellence. They train generations of Israelis to go on to be top CEO’s
of major corporations, scientists, professors-

-truly productive members of the human
race. The quality and type of person who can
pass the test and fly these planes is what is so
unique and special about the fleet of Tzukit.
Avi has come up with a very creative, effective and exciting way to promote solidarity
with Israel—to form an aerobatic team here
in Southern California, using the Tzukit used
by the IAF. There are already over 60 air shows
throughout the US—from the Miramar Air
Show in San Diego to the EAA AirVenture
Oshkosh in Wisconsin. The team will participate in air shows, special events, such as Israeli
and U.S. Independence Days, Memorial Day
and other occasions. They will regularly offer
flights to youth, donors and the general public
during such events throughout the year—all
are welcome to enjoy the incredible show.
Right now Avi is actively seeking funding for this
project and hopes
to find people that
can fly this particular type of airplane:
ex-Israeli pilots, even
U.S. Navy fighter
pilots and veterans
with a valid pilot’s
license and the appropriate credentials. The
objective of his mission
is to promote awareness
and solidarity with the
State of Israel using the
Israeli Aerobatic Team
(with the original IAF Aerobatic Team markings) flown by ex IAF pilots.
For more information please contact Avi
Maltzman at: avi@sparrowaviation.com. A
Tanya Schwied graduated from New York
University, studied abroad in Israel, and currently works for the CEO and President of Jewish
Federation & Family Services.

Jlife

| AUGUST 2015 45

News&Jews
OC JEWISH SCENE | AUGUST 2015

An Evening of
Networking at the
4th Street Market

New Clubs for
Jewish Students
The Orange County Bureau of Jewish
Education in partnership with Jewish
Student Connection (JSC) has established
five new Jewish clubs in local high
schools. By empowering teens to be
leaders in their schools, bringing in
Jewish professionals to present further
opportunities, creating bonds of
friendship, and of course, food, they are
excited to reach more Jewish teens than
ever before. Starting fall semester 2015,
they will be in the following schools:
OCSA, Northwood, Irvine, Fountain
Valley and Corona del Mar. If your teen
is interested in starting a club at their
school, please visit www.bjeoc.org. For
more information on JSC, please visit
www.myjsc.org.

The Network brings together Orange
County’s most influential Jewish
professionals and business leaders,
creating opportunities to expand the
reach of your business and philanthropic
ventures. This month join commercial real
estate developers Irv Chase and Ryan
Chase at the exciting 4th Street Market
for a discussion about the revitalization
efforts and new economic business
opportunities in downtown Santa Ana.
Thursday, August 6 at 6:00 p.m.. For more
information please contact Adrienne
Domash at (949) 435-3484, ext. 344 or
adrienne@jffs.org.

Irv Chase

Ryan Chase

Community Scholar
Program’s 10th
Annual Summer
Camping Trip
From hiking and horseback riding in the
Bryce Canyon Hoodoos to swimming and
rock-walking in the water-filled Narrows
in Zion National Park, 35 participants in
CSP’s 10th Annual Summer Camping
trip recently enjoyed camping in and
exploring some of the American West’s
most spectacular scenery. If you’re
ready for adventure, Orange County
Community Scholar Program (CSP) is
heading out to Joshua Tree National Park
from October 23-25, 2015 for its 11th
Annual Dads & Kids “In-Tents” camping
adventure. For more information about
CSP, please visit www.occsp.org or call
(949) 682-4040.

JewGlue Jews Cruise!
JewGlue is going to Sea…Again! Sail
away with them on the TikiBoat in the
Newport Beach Harbor for the 2nd annual
JewGlue Jews Cruise! They’ll have music,
dancing, drinks... and 120 people you’d
be lucky to be stranded on an island
with! Saturday, August 8 at 8:30 p.m. 11:30 p.m. For more information contact
JewGlue@jffs.org or Adam Chester (949)
435-3484 ext. 338 or adam@jffs.org.
48 AUGUST 2015 |

Jlife

News&Jews

Temple Beth
Sholom’s “Return
& Renewal”
On Sunday, August 30 at 4:30 p.m.
(18 months after their devastating fire)
Temple Beth Sholom (TBS) will reopen its
Sanctuary and Social Hall! Come join them
for special celebratory Chanukat HaBayit
and re-dedication of the TBS home.
The Torah scrolls will be brought back
into the sanctuary by everyone present
and the halls will be filled with voices of
the community once again. For more
information please visit www.tbsoc.com.

Music for a
Summer Evening
The Laguna Woods Region of JFFS
is putting on an event called “Music
for a Summer Evening,” featuring
instrumentalist, Gary Gould. It’s a chance
for newcomers and summer residents
to connect and get information about
Jewish activities. Bring your friends!
Monday, August 3 at 7:00 p.m. at
Laguna Woods’ Clubhouse 5. For more
information, contact Chelle at (949) 4353484, ext. 334.

Bullets & Bagels
Bullets & Bagels is the first noshing,
networking and shooting club for
Jews. The goal of the organization is to
encourage Jews to learn the value of
firearms as a sport and social medium,
as well as how to use them to defend
themselves, their families and their
communities. The club holds bi-monthly
events, featuring guest speakers such
as rabbis, historical figures, local and
federal law enforcement representatives,
certified firearms instructors and other
experts. The next event is Sunday, August
23 at Raahauges Range in Corona. For
more information please visit www.
bulletsnbagels.com or call (424) 227-2797.

Mandel House’s
“Chef’s Kitchen”

Gary Gould

Jewish Federation & Family Services’
(JFFS) Mandel House featured “Chef’s
Kitchen” on Sunday July. Guest chef
volunteer was Michelle Schneider who
is a cordon bleu chef. The objective of
Chef’s Kitchen is to develop the resident’s
cooking skills and provide the opportunity to explore new tastes from their very
own vegetable garden. The lunch menu
designed by the chef included a tomato
and herb tart, fruit puff, garden crudités
with homemade hummus and yogurt dip.
For more information please visit www.
jewishorangecounty.org.

OC Taglit-Birthright Israel Trips!
Summer is here, and what a better way to kick it off than a
free trip to Israel? Two Taglit-Birthright Israel trips, organized
by Hillel of OC and JFFS NextGen OC, recently departed
with participants eager for the adventures awaiting them.
Together, they are exploring their Jewish identity as they
travel the country, visit key landmarks, learn our people’s history, get to know each other and soak up Israeli culture. For
more information on future trips contact lisa@jffs.org (Hillel
trip for students ages 18-26) or adam@jffs.org (“OC Way” trip
for young professionals and students ages 21-26).
Jlife

| AUGUST 2015 49

LIFESTYLE

GLOBAL GAME
CHANGERS
A plan for change comes to the O.C.
BY LISA J. GRAJEWSKI, PSY.D.

THE WORLD SEEMS to be amid a loss of
control, what with an upsurge in recent terrorist attacks at home and abroad, economic
crises, global warming, and continued chaos.
So, what is the world to do in seemingly dire
circumstances? The YK Center, a for benefit institute that prepares managers for the
new economy, came to the conclusion that,
“Humanity must be able to make the major
shifts in order to secure the sustainability of
future generations and as so, it is up to us to
act accordingly.”
The YK Center, founded by Tal Ronen
and Prof. Yehuda Kahane, brought the Global
Game Changers Lab to Orange County in May
2015. Professionals from a wide swath of disciplines, met for a three-day conference, which
provided a proving ground of sorts to test
ideas in a safe and compatible environment.
According to the YK Center, “This lab can be
where we think the unthinkable in service of
50 AUGUST 2015 |

Jlife

an effort to reboot and reconfigure humanity.”
The Lab provided an opportunity to dissect
the current challenges our world is facing on a
daily basis. Presenters discussed genetics, spirituality, global business, human trafficking,
national security, politics, the environment,
medicine, and women’s issues among others.
Topics, that while they significantly impact
our world, are often avoided or dismissed due
to their volatility
In addition to the three-day lab, a group
of local executives met for dinner with Jewish
Federation & Family Services CEO Shalom
Elcott and three of the lab participants, YK
Center Chairman and Co-Founder, Prof.
Yehuda Kahane, Founder and Director of
Humanity’s Global Era Research Center,
Shlomo Yishai, Ph.D., and Colonel Shay
Shabtai of the Israeli Defense Forces. The
private dinner provided attendees with the
opportunity to meet with the presenters

and other like-minded executives in Orange
County. According to dinner attendee Alla
Rubinstein, Aspen Partnership and Donor
Relationship Manager, “It was such a unique
and pleasantly surprising opportunity to have
the chance to speak with Shay and Shlomo
over dinner. I could have spent hours listening
to how they envision technology will guide us
in a more humanitarian approach to security,
peace and governance.”
Prof. Yehuda Kahane, Chairman and Co
Founder of YK Center is a Fellow of the
World Academy of Arts and Science and was
awarded for life time achievements by the
Israeli insurance industry. Until recently he
headed the institute for business and the environment at Tel-Aviv University. Prof. Kahane
has taught in many universities, including,
the Hebrew University and The Wharton
School (University of Pennsylvania). Prof.
Kahane is also an active entrepreneur and
investor in technological incubators and technological companies.
Shlomo Yishai, Ph.D. is Founder and
Director of Humanity’s Global Era Research
Center and author of “Humanity’s Global
Era: A Dual Paradigm Change.” In 2011,
he led the team respondible for formulation
Israel’s Air Force Academy leadership rationale, which has served as the basis for the
development of a Senior Officer Academy.
He currently heads the program for training
directors at Herzog College.
Col. Shay Shabtai is a soon to be retired
colonel with the IDF. Col. Shabtai has worked
with national strategy and policy, national
strategic assessment, and national threat assessment for the government of Israel and the
IDF. Shabtai was one of the first to propose
the establishment of an IDF cyber command
thanks to his engagement with cyber strategy
challenges within the Israeli government.
Perhaps Thomas Paine said it best, “We
have it in our power to begin the world over
again.”
To find out more about YK Center or learn
how to get involved, go to www.ykcenter.org.
You can see Prof. Yehuda Kehane at: www.
youtube.com/watch?v=YD3Sa6KTwUI A
Lisa Grajewski, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist
and adjunct Assistant Professor at The Chicago
School of Professional Psychology. She has
been a contributing writer for Jlife magazine
since 2004.

The NextGen Israeli Wine
Tasting was filled with the
tastes and pleasant aromas of
Israel! 50 young adults met at
Chemers Gallery to schmooze,
experience Israeli wine, and
learn about how Israeli innovations and technology are
aiding in solving Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
current drought crisis. Additionally NextGen Machers
Mark, our professionals networking group, had a successful breakfast panel featuring
three top business professionals in Orange County
and moderated by
our very own Marc
Garelick.

On June 4, over
60 young adults
had a blast at
Saddle Ranch Chop
House in Costa Mesa for
the JewGlue Happy Hour!
JewGlue is a program of
NextGen, the young adult
department of Jewish Federation & Family Serviced (JFFS).
For more information about
NextGen and to learn about
upcoming events, contact us
at NextGen@jffs.org, or visit
www.JewishOC.org/NextGen.

Battling Bagel Hips
I am one chubby bunny. I have struggled
to be a single digit pants size my whole
life. I feel like the weight goes beyond my
body, but is a part of my spirit as well. It
is a mental obstacle as much as a physical
one. It has been engrained in America,
through pop culture, that women should
have beach bodies, fit and slim. I’ve had too
many bagels and lox in my lifetime to fit
that image. This has been my battle since
I was a kid.
However, the past two years (September
20th 2013 being my “anniversary”), have
profoundly changed my outlook and provided me with a desire to not “look the
part,” but make the “healthy change” for a
longer life.
The epiphany happened when I lost my
friend and colleague, Patricia Hadley, in a
mountain climbing accident. She was the
most active, positive and radiant woman.
At her funeral, it was clear that she had two
separate groups of friends: her coworkers
and her weekend warrior enthusiasts. Sadly,
I could see that one of these groups was

c
Ra

Between spin (thank you Full Psycle and
bike2thebeat for supporting me), running
with friends (many of you in the community at some point or another), road biking,
and my new found love for United Studios
of Self Defense (karate), I have lost 50
pounds. Yes, I have also broken my left foot
twice and my tailbone, but who is counting? I have also changed my diet dramatically (with the exception of cheating on egg
whites with gummy bears).
I still struggle. Every
single moment I smell
french fries I have
a struggle. I have
more weight to
lose and I am
sure the yo-yo
will continue. I
have learned that
I like me this
way. I’ve gained
more confidence. I
feel sexier than ever
before, and I continually laugh at obstacles
because I’m a fighter.
I may not be where I want to be
yet, size wise, but I also know I am not the
only person in Orange County on this journey. We can’t all be slim and fit. Nor should
we make impossible standards. But we can
strive to be healthier and happier people,
one day at a time. My friend Pat would
always say, “You can do it!” Two years after
she’s left us, I wish I could tell her, “I’m
doing it, Pat! I’m doing it.” A

I was seemingly
unscathed by my poor
health decisions and I
still had time to avoid
continuing them.

fit and radiating,
while the other
was clearly less
active.
It was at this
moment when I
looked at my over200lb body and
decided my personality could stay large, but
for my health and happiness, the body had to change. I
wanted Pat’s legacy of a healthy lifestyle
to continue in someone; so, I guessed it was
going to have to be me.
I had a list of health reasons that fueled
my fire. Every woman in my family has
diabetes due to weight. By forty, no woman
in my family has been able to keep her gal
bladder. Every person from the generation
above me is at an unhealthy weight, which
might explain many of the medications on
the kitchen counter. I don’t mean to say
this callously, but in reality, it is true. I was
still seemingly unscathed by my poor health
decisions and I still had time to avoid continuing them.

Rachel Schiff is an English teacher who graduated from Cal State Fullerton. She was president of Hillel, a representative of World Union
of Jewish Students and a YLD intern. Currently,
she is a master’s degree student in American
Studies with emphasis on Jews in America.

Jlife

| AUGUST 2015 53

LIFESTYLE

It’s all Yiddish to me!

YOUR
BUBBE
GETS IT!

Yiddish Slang within American English
BY DEVORAH LEWIS

SCHVITZ, SPRITZ, KLUTZ—these are
only a few of many Yiddish words used
every day without a second thought to their
origin. Now, if you happen to have a relative who affectionately calls you bubelah or
yells “Get your tuchus over here!” or maybe
you like to watch reruns of The Nanny then
these words aren’t that unfamiliar. In fact,
you can find any of these from the maven of
all words: the dictionary.
Several of the words adopted within
54 AUGUST 2015 |

Jlife

American English have changed in meaning
depending on the context. Many Yiddish
words once carried negative connotations.
Chutzpah is a great example of this. Leo
Rosten defines it in The Joys of Yiddish as
“arrogance such as no other word, and
no other language, can do justice to.” In
American English, chutzpah carries a more
positive connotation, a characteristic that
one is proud to have. Yiddish slang brings
so much flavor and humor to a conversa-

tion. Even if some of the words are used
in a heated situation, there is something
about Yiddish that lightens the mood. And
sure enough, the source of the majority of
today’s yiddishisms comes from comedy
movies and TV shows: look to anything
with Mel Brooks or Adam Sandler.
The advent of cinema is not the sole reason for the adoption of Yiddish in English.
Similar to how Yiddish was a product of
Jews interaction with non-Jews in Europe,
Yiddish slang within American English
became a product of non-Jews interaction
with Jews in America.
Countless times, I informed both Jewish
and non-Jewish friends, “You know that’s
Yiddish, right?” People order a bagel with
lox every day without realizing they just
used Yiddish. I have had professors refer
to their lectures as spiel or shtick and usually receive a few laughs in response. These
words are used so much that even I forget
their origin. Sometimes I call myself a ditz
when I am scatter-brained. That’s Yiddish,
though the verdict is still out on this word.
Or I am a big fan of crepes filled with cheese
a.k.a blintzes, that’s Yiddish! If you are like
my sister and like to say “Oy vey schmeer,”
that’s…kind of Yiddish. The proper phrase
is “Oy vey ist mir” or “Woe is me.” Schmeer
is what you spread on bagels.
The next time someone sighs “I am
stuffed to the kishkas” or your bubbe licks
her thumb and says “You have some schmutz on your punim” and then proceeds to
wipe it away, just remember there’s more to
where that came from, and if you have the
urge to say “Oy gevalt,” then I say go for it.
No one will call you a meshuggener. A
Dvorah Lewis is a contributing writer.

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DEATH &
TAXES
Facing the inevitable with grace.
BY RABBI DAVID ELIEZRIE

THERE IS AN old saying: “You cannot
evade death and taxes.” Every April 15th we
are reminded about taxes. Death seems far
more remote and distant—out of our frame
of reference. We are not sure exactly how to
deal or plan for it; fortunately, Judaism gives
us clear directives.
The first directive is how we look at life.
Is it random, without any Divine plan, or
are we created for a purpose? Does Judaism
believe in the world to come? What about
reincarnation? Finally, what is the Jewish attitude to burial and death?
56 AUGUST 2015 |

Jlife

Human life is the fusion of two opposites,
the body and the soul. The essence of each
human is a spark of the Divine. Death is the
separation of the two, the body is interred
and the soul lives on.
According to the Torah the soul rises to
a spiritual domain and continues to exist.
The soul is subject for judgement for the life
lived in this world. If the soul has reached its
purpose it remains, if not Jewish mysticism
teaches us the soul can be infused with a new
life. Reincarnation in Judaism is called Gilgul
Haneshomos- the recycling of souls.

As the carrier of the G-dly soul, the body
is imbued with sanctity and must be treated
with the greatest respect and dignity. Judaism
mandates the body be interred in the ground
as soon as possible. The body is prepared for
burial with a Taharah, literately, a purification. It is washed with water, placed into
shrouds and buried in a simple wooden box.
Many in Israel have the custom of burying in shrouds alone, without the casket.
Mausoleums are prohibited by Jewish Law.
Because the body is considered holy,
Jewish law forbids cremation. Jewish law goes
as far as stating that if some intentionally cremates a loved one he is not permitted to sit
Shivah—observe the week of mourning.
Judaism also teaches us to prepare for
death. It should not fall on loved ones in a
moment of crisis. Rather we should arrange
for burial, purchase of a casket and a Taharah
in advance. We should insure that all of this
is done according to Jewish tradition.
Burying a person who has no loved one, or
money, is called Chessed Shel Emes, a true act
of kindness. It is a favor that cannot ever be
repaid by the beneficiary.
There is a story told about a man who
never did a good deed in this world. The
prosecutors in the heavenly courts were filled
with excitement, sure they would prevail. Just
as the court was to give its ruling an angel
popped up and said, “Hold on a moment, in
1954 he gave a nickel to a poor man.” The
court was in consternation as there had been
no other redeeming value in his life. Finally
the judges said, “Give him back his nickel
and let him go to hell.”
As the Talmud teaches us, in this world
we have a unique opportunity to act with
dignity and holiness, those Mitzvahs stand in
our merit forever. A
More at OCJewish.com/mourning. Rabbi David
Eliezrie is at Congregation Beth Meir HaCohen/
Chabad. His email is rabbi@ocjewish.com.

Fungus lives under the
nail surface, which makes
getting rid of it very difficult.
Earlier medical lasers require
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fungus. These often miss
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Jlife

| AUGUST 2015 59

LIFESTYLE

ORANGE COUNTY’S
JEWISH HISTORY
The other King in the March on Montgomery
BY DALIA TAFT
Thank you letter to
Rabbi Bernie King,
April 23, 1965.
Image courtesy of
Barbara King.

BLOGOSPHERE
Jlife wants to acknowledge some of
the interesting blogs related to the
Jewish community. Enjoy!

MANDEL CENTER
Through its blog (and research
projects, publications, videos
and events) the Mandel Center
for Studies in Jewish Education
promotes deeper understanding
of the purposes and practices of
Jewish education.
blogs.brandeis.edu/
mandeljewished

RABBI BERNARD P. KING achieved much
in his life: founding rabbi of Congregation
Shir Ha-Ma’a lot in Irvine, winner of the 1993
National Conference of Christians and Jews
Humanitarian Award, named one of the 100
most influential leaders of Orange County
by the OC Register, to list just a few. But for
Bernie, the moment that changed his life
came in an Alabama airport in 1965, when
he shook Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s hand
and knew “he was definitely one of the great
human beings to walk the earth.” Born in
1938 in Arizona, Bernie was a submariner
in the Navy and earned a philosophy
degree before deciding to become a rabbi.
While studying in March of 1965, he was
prompted to join the last of Martin Luther
King Jr.’s Selma-to-Montgomery marches
by news reports he heard on the radio. The
60 AUGUST 2015 |

Jlife

next day he boarded a charter flight with
a number of other clergy from LA and flew
to Montgomery. They landed just in time to
join the final leg of the third march, which
ended at the state capitol building, where
Bernie recalled seeing only Confederate,
not American, flags flying. When Rabbi King
passed at age 72 in 2010, he left behind a
profound legacy of tolerance and faith.
Dalia Taft, archivist of the Orange County
Jewish Historical Society - a program of
Jewish Federation & Family Services highlights images from the archives every
month. For more information, please visit
www.jewishorangecounty.org. You can also
contact Dalia at history@jffs.org or at (949)
435-3484, ext. 167.

JEWISH GPS
In August 2010, JewishGPS, LLC
was launched in an effort to
help guide Jewish organizations
in a variety of aspects of Jewish
education.
jewishgps.wordpress.com

21ST CENTURY JEWISHED
This blog reflects on “Jewish
Education in the 21st Century,
as we begin to discover the
contextual ramifications of 21st
Century life on Jewish learning,
practice and living.”
21stcenturyjewished.
blogspot.com

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ORANGE COUNTY’S JEWISH YOUTH & PARENTS

INSTILLING
EMOTIONAL
INTELLIGENCE
It All Starts With
Confidence
BRAIN GAMES
Get Those
Minds Ready
For A New Year

Extra-Curricular Activities
These activities are available
in addition to our Montessori
curriculum. The instructors come
to Olam once a week for families
who are interested in additional
programming.
• Gymnastics with Mr. Dean
• Webby Dance
• Play Ball
• Summer Camp

The Torah U’Masoret
Religious School
We offer small, personal
classes with involved
instructors to provide a
nurturing environment for
children to learn and grow
in Judaism. Wednesdays and
Sundays in Costa Mesa.

Help make the first day of school the best
yet. This back to school checklist should
come in handy.

Jewish Camps bring fun and learning.

Psychotherapist for
Children, Teens,
Parents & Families

Inspiring your family to live
a happy and healthy life!

Make your occasion
unforgettable with
the thrill of air
combat action!
MITZVAH AT THE SPEED OF SOUND!
714-937-1511 | www.flightdeck.com
1650 S. Sinclair St., Anaheim, CA

Hilary Buff, Psy.D
858.705.1450

drhilarybuff@me.com
www.drhilarybuff.com

• Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Weddings, Meetings & More
• Eight different teambuilding activities available
• See and hear all the action in the Officers Club
• Rooms available for off-site meetings
• Food & beverage included
• Personalized dog tags and award certificates
• The only facility like it in the world!
• Groups up to 90 people

summer on the brain. Plus, thanks to the can’t-be-beat Orange
County weather we’ll be enjoying warm sunny days well into
October. Unfortunately, we don’t live in an ‘Endless Summer”
and there’s no two ways around it… school is starting. Some
of your kids may have even already begun the “Goodbye
Summer grieving process. But don’t be too sad… a new school
year is an exciting new chapter. A wonderful new adventure
filled with new friends, new subjects and “bouquets of freshly
sharpened No. 2 pencils.” And if you approach the new
school year with half the enthusiasm your kids do summer
vacation, your family will be well on its way to a healthy new

TARMSTRONG24@GMAIL.COM
ADVERTISING
(949) 812-1891

SALES@OCJEWISHLIFE.COM
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ART@OCJEWISHLIFE.COM
ORANGE COUNTY JEWISH LIFE AND
KIDDISH IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY
ORANGE COUNTY JEWISH LIFE, LLC
1 FEDERATION WAY, IRVINE, CA 92603

school year attitude. After all, home is where it all starts and
providing your kids with the right tools can set them up for
a very bright school year! Don’t just fill their backpacks; fill
their hearts with as much love as the straps can carry. Giving
them confidence and help with self-awareness makes all the
difference in the world.

— Tracey Armstrong Gorsky, Editor in Chief

Editor Tracey Armstrong Gorsky is the
managing editor for JLife and former editor
and writer for Making Waves, Pet Product
News, Veterinary Practice News and Surfing
Magazine. She brings over ten years of
writing and editing experience to Kiddish
magazine and holds a Masters in Business
Administration.

Find the bold italic words on this sheet.
The unused letters spell a secret message!

Moshe davens to HaShem to let him enter
the land of Israel, a request that is denied.
However, HaShem does show Moshe the
entire land. Moshe continued his last speech
to the Jewish people including not to “add or
subtract” anything from the Torah, to study
and perform mitzvot and that HaShem is
close to them whenever they call. Moshe
mentions that HaShem commanded him to
teach the Jewish people the laws. We are
not to make a god of any image, animal
or constellation. The Jewish people are
warned that the failure to follow HaShem
will lead to exile from the land. The Jews
are reminded of the awesome miracle that
HaShem spoke to all of them and they were
brought out from the midst of another nation.
In short, HaShem has shown Himself and
His wonders to the Jewish people. The Ten
Commandments are reviewed and Moshe
recites the first two parts of the Shema.

S

N

N

P

E

R

I

T

N

E

EON

(scramble)
OEVL

AERIS

EGYPT

MEZUZAH

VAIN

DONKEY

‫ק‬
÷‫י‬

‫ד‬
+‫ה‬

‫ק‬
–‫כ‬

‫נ‬
x‫ו‬

‫מ‬

‫כ‬
x‫ב‬

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

Visit www.thefamousabba.com/chinuch-podcasts for
this week’s Chinuch Podcast! Hear from a new speaker
each week.

• Name 3 things we refrain from on Shabbat.
• True or False: we light candles ON Shabbat.

shabbat

(Hint: The Shema)

GTNIH
EHRA

ORNIMGN

WORD CMRLESAB

SUPER SHABBAT SHEET
16 AV 5775
PARHSA VA'ETCHANAN
SHABBAT NACHAMU

8

AUGUST 2015

kiddish

Instilling
Emotional
Intelligence
It all starts with confidence.
BY TAMMY KECES

I

magine a world in which problems

learning, healthy friendships and

were solved with hugs, compassion,

academic success. Just as core academic

patience and empathy. Now imagine

subjects require experiential learning

that world was your child’s school.

and daily practice to achieve mastery,

A school environment in which

communication and social skills also need

children act respectfully towards each

to be explicitly taught and practiced in a

other, communicate feelings effectively,

safe, nurturing environment. To become

openly display empathy and celebrate

truly skilled takes patience and a defined

individuality is a foundation for joyful

method practiced by an entire school
community. Irvine Hebrew Day School
(IHDS) uses an approach called Positive

Discipline in which children are taught to
identify complex emotions and cope with
them productively.
Emotional articulation and selfawareness also connects directly to
academic learning as students develop
the skills to analyze emotional conflicts
Instilling self-

in literature and explore how one might

confidence is

solve a similar problem. Essentially, when

one of the most

“Common Core” education is properly

important ways you

implemented, this is what it looks like.

can prepare your

One morning, I witnessed a student

children for the new

having a difficult transition to school. As

school year.

adults we often feel compelled to swoop in

kiddish

9

AUGUST 2015

Send them off
with a big hug.

and fix our childrens’ problems. However,

only in virtue of emotion, empathy and

I had faith in this child’s abilities, and as he

sympathy, feeling-with and feeling-for. We

wrote about his emotions in his Feelings

act with kindness because we know what

Journal, I gently stepped forward to

it feels like to be in need of kindness...

validate his feelings...but before I had the

Chesed requires emotional intelligence.”

chance, another student went to comfort

(To Heal a Fractured World). Positive

him. She gave her classmate some “tips”

Discipline teaches the foundational

on how to deal with missing his mommy,
offered a hug and invited him to play.
If we are to build a compassionate
society, we must provide the tools
necessary to achieve it.
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks explores
the active emotional engagement required
for true Chesed (translated as Kindness)
in a way that resonates with the practices
of Positive Discipline: “Chesed exists

emotional intelligence necessary for true
Acts of Kindness. Our children, therefore,
respond to emotions with reflection, a
sense of curiosity and positive deeds.
What if hugs could solve our
problems? Let us guide our children to
find out. ✿
Tammy Keces is a contributing writer to Kiddish
Magazine.

EMOTIONAL
ARTICULATION
AND SELFAWARENESS
ALSO CONNECTS
DIRECTLY TO
ACADEMIC
LEARNING.

10

AUGUST 2015

kiddish

Back To School
Preparing your kids from the inside out.
BY SUE PENN, M. ED.

Encourage your
kids to embrace
new challenges.

encouragement. Very few people
transition flawlessly, without some
anxiety or issues, and most adults do
not embrace change.
With change comes opportunity!
Teach this to your children. Model it and
point it out. Reinforce it. At a recent
graduation ceremony in Israel, Shimon
Perez said “it is better to dream than
to remember!” This is the charge by
which we should parent, encouraging
our kids to look to the future, to
harness the opportunity, to embrace

H

ow exciting the first day

new challenges, moving forward into
It is helpful for our children to

a brighter future and succeeding more

of school is! It is a new

begin the new adventure, or any

and more a little at a time, knowing

beginning, a brand new

transition, knowing that they are

that if they don’t succeed or suffer a

start and it begins a year

supported and loved unconditionally,

temporary set-back, they can fall back

filled with promise. There is always

no matter what. It gives them

into the loving arms of their family. ✿

a little apprehension as students

confidence to know that if they are

wonder who they will be in class with,

unsuccessful at a test, struggle to

what their teacher will be like and

make a new friend in the class, or

if the classes will be interesting and

seem to antagonize the teacher, they

within their ability.

can come home to love, support and

Sue Penn is the mother of three,
Director of Congregational Learning at
University Synagogue, president of Jewish
Reconstructionist Educators of North
America and a member of the Jewish
Educators Assembly.

11

12

AUGUST 2015

kiddish

Back to
School
Checklist
Help make the first day of school the best yet.

So many exciting
preparations go into
a new school year.

T

he first day of school can
be as hectic as it is exciting.
Try making a back-to-school
checklist to help make sure

nothing falls between the cracks.

First Steps
• If you have any questions, you can call
the school district with questions about
your child’s school.
• Verify what day classes start and what
time your child should arrive.
• If they’re not already enrolled from a
previous year, make sure your child
is enrolled.
• Fill out all the emergency contact
sheets and any other necessary forms.

Check Medical Requirements
• Double check that your child has all
required immunizations.
• Schedule a physical exam for your
child (if needed) to participate in
school activities.
• If they’re due for an exam, get your

kiddish

13

AUGUST 2015

Make a list and
check it twice!

child’s vision checked before
school starts.
• Notify the school nurse, the principal’s

• Know what your child is expected to
learn in his/her grade level.
• Familiarize yourself with the

office and your child’s teachers about

information on the school website.

any health problems or medications.

• Note the phone numbers for checking
school closures or reporting absences.

Stock Up on School Supplies
• Check the school website or call for a
list of required supplies.
• Inquire whether or not your child will
store supplies at home or at school.
• If they’re getting a locker, buy some

• Find out the procedure for taking your
child out of school early.
• Read the school handbook and make.
sure your child understands the rules.
• Review the school’s Federal
Report Card.

Learn as Much as You Can
About the School
• Find out whether the teacher prefers
to communicate by phone, email, or
written note.

parent-teacher group.

FIND OUT WHETHER
THE TEACHER
PREFERS TO
COMMUNICATE BY
PHONE, EMAIL, OR
WRITTEN NOTE.

14

AUGUST 2015

Plan Healthy Meals
• Make sure you have healthy snacks on
hand for breakfast and after-school
snacks.
• Find out how much school breakfasts
and lunches cost.
• Snacks- Are they available on campus
and/or can your kids bring them from
home?
• Ask where to obtain weekly school
lunch menus.
• Alert school staff if your child has a
severe food allergy.

kiddish

Help Your Child
Prepare for School
• Arrange for your child to play with
others in his/her age group before
classes start.
• Make sure your child knows where to
go after school each day.
• This one is important but often
overlooked. Discuss your child’s
feelings about starting school and talk
over any concerns.
• Talk with your child about his daily
school schedule.
• Talk about peer pressure with your

Arrange Transportation
• Practice getting to school with your
child.
• ON FOOT: Walk the route together,
introduce yourself to the crossing
guards (once school begins) and review
pedestrian safety guidelines.
• BUS: Make sure he/she knows where
and when to be picked up before and

child.
• Help your child memorize your home
address and home and work phone
numbers.
• Tour the school with your kid(s) so
they she can find her classrooms, the
restrooms and the cafeteria.
• Schedule a time for you and your child
to meet his new teachers.

after school.
• BICYCLE: Review road safety and make
sure they wear their helmets.
• Arrange a carpool if necessary and
introduce your child to the other adults
and children.
• Compile contact information of
parents who can pick up your child in
an emergency.

Lay the Ground Rules
• Establish a firm bedtime before school
starts.
• Plan and arrange for a suitable spot in
the house to do homework.
• Create a plan for balancing homework
and play time.
• Set rules for the time spent on TV,
video games, and computer use for

Make After-School Plans
• Arrange child care or after-school
activities.
• Don’t over do it! Choose extracurricular
activities carefully to avoid
overscheduling.
• Make sure your child knows where to
go after school each day.

non-school projects. ✿

kiddish

15

AUGUST 2015

The American
Summer
Jewish Camps bring fun and learning.
BY AUDRA MARTIN

Summer Camp
provides memories
that are totally
unique.

community, from socialist Zionists to
Orthodox Jews.”
As a Camp Director, I shudder to
think that the hijinks of the film and
series represent the “real world” (they
do not!). But with loudness and ruach
(spirit) unique to camps, the film and
series do capture Camp Modin and our
camps’ essential values of pluralism and

I

n late July, Netflix revived the

American Summer, David Wain, went

movie Wet Hot American Summer,

to Camp Modin in Maine, and suggested

turning it into an eight-episode

that the film is a caricature of some of

series. The series, “Wet Hot

his experiences. According to Wikipedia,

American Summer: First Day of Camp,”

Camp Modin was founded in the 1920s

is a prequel to the original film and set

as “The Summer Camp with a Jewish

during the first day of camp.

idea” and was notable for its Jewish

Set at a Jewish summer camp in

pluralism, welcoming children across

the summer of 1981, the series parodies

the religious spectrum. By mixing

clichés seen in other classic camp

recreation with religious and cultural

movies from the 1980s.

education, Camp Modin has been

As a child and teen, the director
and writer of the original Wet Hot

described as “the prototype for camps
sponsored by every branch of the

inclusiveness. Values by which we raise
our next generation of leaders.
Are they any different from the
values we espouse during the rest of
the year? Of course not, but only camp
provides such an intense immersion
in those values. It’s what Benjamin
Franklin had in mind when he said,
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I
remember. Involve me and I learn.” ✿
Audra Martin has worked with children in the
JCC field for over 17 years, she is the Director of
Children and Camp at the Merage JCC. Contact
Audra at audram@jccoc.org.